Uranium mining is important for several reasons. First, the “front end” of the nuclear business -- uranium mining and milling -- has been the dirtiest part of the nuclear fuel chain. The single exception was the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Second, uranium mining must happen first – before there can be uranium milling, uranium enrichment, uranium transportation, nuclear power, nuclear weapons, or nuclear wastes. In short, without uranium mining, we would not have to worry about the nuclear industry’s radioactive pollution or weapons production around the world. And third, the nuclear industry creates highly radioactive wastes that are dangerous for millions of years. Over 60 years after the beginning of the nuclear industry in the U.S., we still have no way to safely dispose of those wastes over the long haul.